Third sentencing date set for former Jefferson County DA convicted of perjury

The third sentencing date for a former Jefferson County District Attorney has been set.

Court records show Charles Todd Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday, March 8 at 10 a.m. Henderson was convicted of perjury last year, and while he was elected to the slot in 2016, never took office as DA.

This is the third date set for 53-year-old Henderson's sentencing hearing. The first was Jan. 4, but two days before the hearing, it was continued. An order earlier this month set the hearing for Feb. 15., but court records show one of Henderson's attorneys was going to be out of town on that day and requested the hearing be continued. The judge granted the continuance again.

Chilton County Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds is presiding over the case after Jefferson County judges recused themselves.

Henderson, a Democrat, was elected to the county's Birmingham division district attorney spot in 2016, but was indicted on the perjury charge just days before he was set to take office in 2017. Henderson beat longtime incumbent Republican Brandon Falls in the race.

Henderson was suspended without pay and, following his conviction in October, never took office. Assistant District Attorney Danny Carr served in his place, and was named interim DA after Henderson's conviction. In November, Gov. Kay Ivey named longtime Assistant DA Mike Anderton to take over the spot. Both men are running for the seat in this year's election.

Henderson's perjury case was based on information he was in a relationship with Yareima Carmen Valecillos Akl during her divorce with then-husband Charbel Akl. Henderson was appointed in January 2016 as the guardian ad litem of the Akls' young child, but was later removed from the position.

After his removal, Henderson testified during the Akls' September divorce trial and twice denied staying with Mrs. Akl at her apartment, but surveillance evidence showed Henderson had stayed at the apartment on several occasions.

Before Henderson's trial, he and Mrs. Akl married. She did not testify.

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